Assam-Meghalaya govts to form regional committees to resolve border issues

GUWAHATI: The Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya have decided to form regional committees to resolve the long pending border issues in a phased manner.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held the second Chief Minister level talk with his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma on border issues on Friday in Guwahati.

During a joint press conference, the duo informed that the committees headed by one Cabinet Minister each from both Meghalaya & Assam will look into matters of the 6 areas of differences.

They will prepare reports on 6 out of 12 areas of differences focusing on factors like historical facts, ethnicity, administrative convenience, willingness and overall sense of people's sentiments.

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"Based on these 5 factors, the two states will try to find a way forward", said Sangma.

The regional committees will be making joint visits to the areas of differences and submit their report within 30 days.

Both the Chief Ministers will also visit some of the areas of differences within this period of 30 days.

These areas of differences fall in Cachar, Kamrup Metro and Kamrup Rural districts in Assam and West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

"There is very strong will from both Meghalaya & Assam Governments to find an amicable solution to the areas of differences", said Sangma taking to Twitter.

"We stand united & committed to resolve our border issues with mutual respect, keeping our people first and by upholding the spirit of North East alive", he added.

Speaking on the occasion Assam CM said, "This is the biggest deliberation in this direction in recent times".